WO2022071590A1 - Microwave processing device, and microwave processing method - Google Patents

Microwave processing device, and microwave processing method Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2022071590A1
WO2022071590A1 PCT/JP2021/036465 JP2021036465W WO2022071590A1 WO 2022071590 A1 WO2022071590 A1 WO 2022071590A1 JP 2021036465 W JP2021036465 W JP 2021036465W WO 2022071590 A1 WO2022071590 A1 WO 2022071590A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
waveguide
container
hollow portion
microwave
upper inner
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/JP2021/036465
Other languages
French (fr)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
保徳 塚原
久夫 渡辺
章斤 石塚
隆平 金城
Original Assignee
マイクロ波化学株式会社
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by マイクロ波化学株式会社 filed Critical マイクロ波化学株式会社
Priority to EP21875886.0A priority Critical patent/EP4227000A1/en
Priority to CN202180079022.XA priority patent/CN116472109A/en
Publication of WO2022071590A1 publication Critical patent/WO2022071590A1/en

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B6/00—Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
    • H05B6/64—Heating using microwaves
    • H05B6/70—Feed lines
    • H05B6/707—Feed lines using waveguides
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J19/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
    • B01J19/08—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor
    • B01J19/12—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor employing electromagnetic waves
    • B01J19/122—Incoherent waves
    • B01J19/126—Microwaves
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J19/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
    • B01J19/18—Stationary reactors having moving elements inside
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B6/00—Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
    • H05B6/64—Heating using microwaves
    • H05B6/76—Prevention of microwave leakage, e.g. door sealings
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B6/00—Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
    • H05B6/64—Heating using microwaves
    • H05B6/80—Apparatus for specific applications
    • H05B6/802—Apparatus for specific applications for heating fluids
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J2219/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
    • B01J2219/08—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor
    • B01J2219/12—Processes employing electromagnetic waves
    • B01J2219/1203—Incoherent waves
    • B01J2219/1206—Microwaves
    • B01J2219/1248—Features relating to the microwave cavity
    • B01J2219/1269—Microwave guides
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J2219/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
    • B01J2219/08—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor
    • B01J2219/12—Processes employing electromagnetic waves
    • B01J2219/1203—Incoherent waves
    • B01J2219/1206—Microwaves
    • B01J2219/1287—Features relating to the microwave source
    • B01J2219/129—Arrangements thereof
    • B01J2219/1293—Single source

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a microwave processing apparatus for irradiating an object in a liquid phase with microwaves, and a microwave processing method.
  • the raw materials and necessary solvent are charged into the reactor, and the temperature and pressure are set. Then, by irradiating with microwaves, the reaction is promoted and the target product is obtained. After that, the temperature is lowered, the pressure is returned to normal pressure as necessary, the target substance, by-products and solvent are recovered, and the treatment is repeated as many times as necessary.
  • sparks caused by the gas generated by the reaction become a problem.
  • the droplets generated by the condensation of the gas on the inner wall of the reactor are dropped from the inner wall, a potential difference is generated between the droplets and the inner wall, and sparks are generated accordingly.
  • droplets tend to condense on the upper and inner surfaces of the reactor, which is one of the causes of sparks.
  • the spark becomes an ignition point and may cause combustion of gas in the reactor, which in turn may cause an explosion, and suppression is desired from the viewpoint of safety.
  • Sparks caused by such gases are a problem not only in reactors for chemical reactions but also in containers that irradiate the contents of liquid phase systems with microwaves in general.
  • the present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is a spark in a container in a microwave processing apparatus and a microwave processing method for irradiating an object in a liquid phase with microwaves. It is to suppress the occurrence.
  • the microwave processing apparatus is a container having a column-shaped hollow portion for accommodating the liquid phase contents, and the central axial direction of the hollow portion is the vertical direction. It has a container with an upper inner surface that becomes lower in height along the direction from the central axis toward the periphery, and a portion protruding from the upper inner surface toward the hollow portion in at least a part of the region when arranged so as to be. , A waveguide for introducing microwaves into the hollow portion.
  • the microwave processing apparatus further includes a microwave generator that generates microwaves, and the microwave generated by the microwave generator is introduced into the hollow portion via a waveguide. You may.
  • a stirring shaft provided so as to penetrate the upper inner surface of the container and coaxial with the central axis of the hollow portion, and a stirring blade connected to the stirring shaft are provided. You may also prepare further.
  • the waveguide may be provided so that the central axis of the waveguide has an angle with respect to the central axis of the hollow portion.
  • the plane including the opening at the tip of the waveguide may be perpendicular to the central axis of the hollow portion.
  • the surface of the upper inner surface of the hollow portion may have good wettability to the contents.
  • the container is provided with an outer cylinder portion that protrudes to the outer side of the container and one end of which communicates with the hollow portion on the upper inner surface.
  • the wave tube may have an inner cylinder waveguide arranged inside the outer cylinder portion so that one end protrudes from the upper inner surface toward the hollow portion.
  • the waveguide is provided so as to penetrate the opening provided in the container, and even if the waveguide and the container are welded at the opening. good.
  • the waveguide is provided so as to face each other across the opening provided in the container, the waveguide on the outside of the container and the guide on the inside of the container. It has a wave tube, and the waveguide inside the container may be detachably provided with respect to the container.
  • the microwave processing method is a container having a column-shaped hollow portion in which the contents of the liquid phase are placed, and is arranged so that the central axis direction of the hollow portion is the vertical direction.
  • the upper inner surface includes a step of inflowing the contents into the hollow portion of the container and a step of irradiating the contents with a microwave through a waveguide having a portion protruding from the upper inner surface of the container toward the hollow portion. Is that the height decreases along the direction from the central axis toward the periphery, at least in a part of the region.
  • the generation of sparks in the container can be suppressed.
  • FIG. 1 A plan view showing a microwave processing apparatus according to the same embodiment.
  • the microwave processing apparatus and the microwave processing method according to the present invention will be described with reference to embodiments.
  • the components with the same reference numerals are the same or correspond to each other, and the description thereof may be omitted again.
  • the container provided in the microwave processing apparatus according to the present embodiment has a dome shape on the upper inner surface of the hollow portion of the container. Then, microwaves are introduced into the container through the waveguide protruding from the upper inner surface to the hollow portion side, and the contents of the liquid phase are irradiated.
  • FIG. 1 is a front view showing the configuration of the microwave processing device 1 according to the present embodiment.
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view of the microwave processing device 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the microwave processing device 1. In FIG. 3, for convenience of explanation, the microwave generator 5, the stirring shaft 11, and the like are omitted.
  • the microwave processing device 1 includes a container 3 having a cylindrical hollow portion 3a, a waveguide 7 for introducing microwaves into the hollow portion 3a, a microwave generator 5, a stirring shaft 11, and stirring.
  • a stirring blade 13 attached to the shaft 11 and a driving means 15 for rotating the stirring shaft 11 can be provided as needed.
  • the upper and lower parts when the central axis of the hollow portion 3a having a cylindrical shape of the container 3 is arranged in the vertical direction are referred to as upper and lower parts.
  • the vertical direction may be a strict vertical direction, or may include a direction deviated from the strict vertical direction by a small angle of about an installation error of the container 3.
  • the container 3 has a cylindrical hollow portion 3a for accommodating the contents 31 of the liquid phase to be batch-processed using microwaves.
  • the hollow portion 3a may have, for example, a cylindrical portion and an outwardly bulging portion such as a dome shape or a hemispherical shape at one end or both ends of the cylindrical shape in the central axial direction. good. Further, the hollow portion 3a may have a shape of a rotating body having a central axis as a rotation axis.
  • the hollow portion 3a is usually a space in which microwaves are confined. Therefore, it is preferable that the container 3 is made of a material that does not pass microwaves.
  • the material that does not pass through microwaves may be a microwave-reflecting material.
  • the microwave reflective material may be, for example, a metal.
  • the metal is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, stainless steel, carbon steel, nickel, nickel alloy, copper, copper alloy, or the like.
  • the liquid phase content 31 may be, for example, a liquid, a slurry, or another liquid phase.
  • the liquid phase content 31 can be a raw material for the desired product and a required solvent.
  • the batch treatment using microwaves performed on the content 31 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a heat treatment, a chemical reaction treatment, a sterilization treatment, or the like.
  • the chemical reaction treatment is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a treatment for producing a biodiesel fuel, a sugar fatty acid ester, or the like by an esterification reaction, a transesterification reaction, or the like, and metal nanoparticles are produced by a reduction reaction. It may be a treatment to be carried out, or it may be another chemical reaction treatment.
  • the container 3 may be a reactor.
  • the batch processing on the content 31 may be performed, for example, under normal pressure, reduced pressure, or pressurized.
  • the container 3 may have an inflow pipe 21 for putting the contents 31 into the hollow portion 3a and an outflow pipe 23 for discharging the contents 31 from the hollow portion 3a.
  • a valve may be provided in the inflow pipe 21 and the outflow pipe 23. Then, when the batch processing is performed in the container 3, the inflow and outflow of the contents 31 may be prevented.
  • the inflow pipe 21 and the outflow pipe 23 are also made of a material that does not allow microwaves to pass through. Further, in order to prevent the leakage of microwaves through the inflow pipe 21 and the outflow pipe 23, the inner diameter, the mounting position, etc. of the inflow pipe 21 and the outflow pipe 23 may be determined, and the inflow port and the outflow pipe of the inflow pipe 21 may be determined.
  • a metal punching board, a metal net, or the like may be arranged at the outlet of the 23 to prevent the leakage of microwaves.
  • FIG. 1 shows a case where the inflow pipe 21 is provided at a position higher than the liquid level 31a of the content 31 and the outflow pipe 23 is provided at the lowest position of the hollow portion 3a.
  • the inflow pipe 21 and the outflow pipe 23 may be arranged in addition to the positions indicated by 1.
  • the container 3 may have, for example, an exhaust port for removing steam on the upper inner surface 3b or the like.
  • the container 3 has an upper inner surface 3b whose height is lowered along the direction from the center to the periphery when the hollow portion 3a is arranged so that the central axis direction is the vertical direction.
  • the inner surface 3b may be, for example, a dome shape, a hemispherical shape, a conical surface shape, or the like, and the height decreases along the direction from the center to the periphery. It may be in shape. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the case where the upper inner surface 3b has a dome shape will be mainly described.
  • the droplets generated on the upper inner surface 3b move to the side surface along the inner wall without falling from the upper inner surface 3b. It is promoted to do so, and the spark caused by the drop of droplets is suppressed.
  • the height of the entire upper inner surface 3b decreases in the direction from the center to the periphery, but in at least a part of the upper inner surface 3b, from the central axis to the periphery.
  • the waveguide 7 introduces the microwave generated by the microwave generator 5 into the hollow portion 3a.
  • the microwave introduced into the hollow portion 3a in this way irradiates the content 31. Irradiation of microwaves in the hollow portion 3a can be performed in a multi-mode.
  • the waveguide 7 has a portion 7a protruding from the upper inner surface 3b.
  • the protruding portion 7a is a portion protruding from the upper inner surface 3b toward the hollow portion 3a.
  • the inventors have found that the presence of this protruding portion 7a can suppress the electric field concentration of microwaves on the upper inner surface 3b of the hollow portion 3a. As a result, the potential difference between the droplet falling from the upper inner surface 3b and the upper inner surface 3b is reduced, and even if the droplet falls, the spark generation is suppressed.
  • the waveguide 7 may be a hollow waveguide. Further, the waveguide 7 is usually a rectangular waveguide having a rectangular cross section, but may be a circular waveguide having a circular cross section. In this embodiment, the case where the waveguide 7 is a rectangular waveguide will be mainly described.
  • the surface of the upper inner surface 3b of the hollow portion 3a may have good wettability with respect to the content 31.
  • the upper inner surface 3b of the container 3 itself may be composed of a substance having good wettability to the content 31, and the upper inner surface 3b of the hollow portion 3a has good wettability to the content 31. It may be coated with a substance.
  • the substance having good wettability to the content 31 may be, for example, titanium oxide having hydrophilicity.
  • the ceramic coating may be applied to the upper inner surface 3b of the container 3.
  • the upper inner surface 3b of the container 3 may be surface-treated to improve the wettability with respect to the content 31.
  • the surface treatment may be, for example, a treatment for reducing the unevenness of the surface or a treatment for reducing the surface roughness.
  • a polishing process such as buffing can be mentioned.
  • the surface having good wettability to the content 31 may be, for example, a surface having a contact angle of 90 ° or less with respect to the content 31, or a surface having a contact angle of 80 ° or less, and the contact thereof may be made.
  • It may be a surface having an angle of 70 ° or less, a surface having a contact angle of 60 ° or less, or a surface having a contact angle of 50 ° or less.
  • the microwave generator 5 generates microwaves.
  • the microwave generator 5 may generate microwaves by using, for example, a magnetron, a klystron, a gyrotron, or the like, or may generate microwaves by using a semiconductor element.
  • the frequency of the microwave may be, for example, 915 MHz, 2.45 GHz, 5.8 GHz, 24 GHz, or another frequency in the range of 300 MHz to 300 GHz.
  • the intensity of the microwave may be appropriately controlled by a control unit (not shown).
  • the control may be, for example, feedback control using a sensing result such as the temperature of the content 31.
  • the central axis of the waveguide 7 preferably has an angle ⁇ with respect to the central axis of the hollow portion 3a, for example, as shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the central axis of the hollow portion 3a is shown by a alternate long and short dash line.
  • the angle formed by the central axis of the waveguide 7 and the central axis of the hollow portion 3a is, for example, 20 ° to It may be in the range of 70 °, in the range of 30 ° to 60 °, or in the range of 40 ° to 50 °. Further, this angle may be 45 °.
  • the waveguide so that the central axis of the hollow portion 3a and the straight line including the central axis of the waveguide 7 intersect. 7 may be provided.
  • a straight line including the central axis of the waveguide 7 is shown by a broken line.
  • the intersection 41 of both is on the liquid surface 31a of the content 31 as shown in FIG. You may become.
  • the microwave is irradiated to the center of the liquid surface, and efficient microwave irradiation can be realized.
  • the straight line including the central axis of the waveguide 7 is the waveguide 7. It may be a straight line including the central axis on the tip side.
  • the plane including the opening at the tip of the waveguide 7 on the hollow portion 3a side may be perpendicular to the central axis of the hollow portion 3a. That is, the plane including the opening at the tip of the waveguide 7 may be parallel to the liquid surface 31a of the content 31.
  • the plane including the opening at the tip of the waveguide 7 and the central axis of the waveguide 7 are shown by broken lines. In this way, the plane including the opening at the tip of the waveguide 7 is set to an angle other than perpendicular to the central axis of the waveguide 7, so that the micro is output from the tip of the waveguide 7. You can change the direction of the waves.
  • FIG. 4 the plane including the opening at the tip of the waveguide 7 on the hollow portion 3a side may be perpendicular to the central axis of the hollow portion 3a. That is, the plane including the opening at the tip of the waveguide 7 may be parallel to the liquid surface 31a of the content 31.
  • the angle ⁇ formed by the central axis of the waveguide 7 and the plane including the opening at the tip of the waveguide 7 may be, for example, in the range of 20 ° to 90 °.
  • the microwave output from the tip of the waveguide 7 is radiated in the direction perpendicular to the plane including the opening at the tip of the waveguide 7. Therefore, in the case shown in FIG. 4, the microwave emitted from the waveguide 7 travels in a direction substantially perpendicular to the liquid level 31a of the content 31 as indicated by the arrow in the figure. , The electric field concentration on the upper inner surface 3b can be suppressed.
  • a microwave transmissive window may be provided at any part of the waveguide 7 in order to prevent steam, particles, etc. from moving from the hollow portion 3a side to the microwave generator 5 side.
  • the window may be made of, for example, quartz, glass, a fluororesin such as polytetrafluoroethylene, or a microwave-permeable material such as ceramic. Further, the window may be, for example, an airtight window or a non-airtight window.
  • the waveguide 7 is provided so as to penetrate the opening 3c provided in the container 3, and even if the waveguide 7 and the container 3 are welded in the opening 3c. good.
  • the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 shows a case where welding 51 is performed on both the outer peripheral side and the inner peripheral side (that is, the upper inner surface 3b of the hollow portion 3a) of the container 3, but only one of them is shown. Welding may be performed. It is preferable that the welding 51 is provided so as to make one round around the outer peripheral side of the waveguide 7. This is to prevent the leakage of microwaves from the opening 3c.
  • the waveguide 7 is provided so as to face each other with the opening 3c provided in the container 3 interposed therebetween, and the waveguide 7-1 on the outer side of the container 3 and the container 3 are provided. It may have a waveguide 7-2 inside the.
  • the waveguide 7-2 inside the container 3 may be detachably provided with respect to the container 3.
  • the waveguide 7-2 may be detachably attached by a bolt to, for example, a bolt hole provided in the upper inner surface 3b or a flange connected to the upper inner surface 3b.
  • the outer waveguide 7-1 is welded to the outer peripheral side of the container 3.
  • a flange 53 having a hole having the same inner diameter as the waveguides 7-1 and 7-2 is fixed to the upper inner surface 3b of the container 3 by welding 51.
  • the flange portion 55 of the waveguide 7-2 is fixed to the flange 53 with bolts 57. Therefore, by removing the bolt 57, the inner waveguide 7-2 can be removed and the inner waveguide 7-2 can be replaced.
  • the outer waveguide 7-1, the opening 3c, the hole of the flange 53, and the inner waveguide 7-2 are all coaxial, and a microwave waveguide is formed by their inner peripheral surfaces. It is assumed that it is. Further, it is assumed that the inner diameter of the opening 3c is the same as the inner diameter of the waveguides 7-1 and 7-2 and the flange 53.
  • the inner waveguide 7-2 By making the inner waveguide 7-2 removable in this way, for example, when the content 31 of the container 3 is increased or decreased, the inner length of the inner waveguide 7-2 is correspondingly increased or decreased. Waveguide 7-2 can also be used. For example, if the amount of content 31 is small and the height of the liquid level 31a is low, a longer inner waveguide 7-2 can be used to irradiate microwaves closer to the content 31. May be attached. On the contrary, when the height of the liquid surface 31a becomes high, a shorter inner waveguide 7-2 is attached so that the tip of the waveguide 7-2 does not come into contact with the liquid surface 31a. You may.
  • the tip of the waveguide 7-2 and the liquid level 31a are at an appropriate distance, for example, the possibility that the content 31 enters the inside of the waveguide 7-2 can be reduced. can. Further, since the inner waveguide 7-2 is removable, the shape of the opening at the tip of the waveguide 7-2 can be changed according to the height of the content 31 and the like. For example, when the central axis of the waveguide 7-2 and the central axis of the hollow portion 3a have an angle, when the liquid level 31a is high, the plane including the opening at the tip is the waveguide 7.
  • a waveguide 7-2 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of -2 is attached, and when the liquid level 31a is low, the plane including the opening at the tip is perpendicular to the central axis of the hollow portion 3a.
  • a waveguide 7-2 may be attached.
  • the waveguide 7 may have an inner-cylinder waveguide 7-3 arranged inside the outer cylinder portion 61 provided in the container 3.
  • the container 3 shown in FIG. 7 is provided with an outer cylinder portion 61 projecting outward from the container 3.
  • One end of the outer cylinder portion 61 on the container 3 side communicates with the hollow portion 3a on the upper inner surface 3b.
  • a flange portion 62 is formed at an end portion of the outer cylinder portion 61 opposite to the hollow portion 3a.
  • the waveguide 7 is airtight to the inner cylinder waveguide 7-3 and the inner cylinder waveguide 7-3 arranged inside the outer cylinder portion 61 so that one end protrudes from the upper inner surface 3b toward the hollow portion 3a.
  • the waveguide 7-4 has a waveguide 7-4 connected via a window 65. It is preferable that the inner diameter of the outer cylinder portion 61 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the inner cylinder waveguide 7-3. A flange portion 63 is formed at an end portion of the inner cylinder waveguide 7-3 opposite to the hollow portion 3a. Then, through the airtight window 65 having the transmission portion 65a made of the microwave transmissive material, the flange portion 62 of the outer cylinder portion 61, the flange portion 63 of the inner cylinder waveguide 7-3, and the waveguide 7 The waveguide 7 can be attached to the container 3 by tightening the flange portion 64 of -4 with bolts 66 and nuts 67.
  • FIG. 7 shows, as an example, a case where the inner cylinder waveguide 7-3 and the waveguide 7-4 are connected via the airtight window 65, but the airtight window 65 does not exist. May be provided or may be provided elsewhere. Further, the inner cylinder waveguide 7-3 may be directly connected to the microwave generator 5. Further, the outer cylinder portion 61 and the inner cylinder waveguide 7-3 may be fixed by a method other than using a flange, for example, by welding or the like.
  • the stirring shaft 11 is provided so as to penetrate the upper inner surface 3b of the container 3 and be coaxial with the central shaft of the hollow portion 3a.
  • a microwave leakage prevention mechanism such as a choke structure may be provided in the through hole of the stirring shaft 11 on the upper surface of the container 3.
  • the stirring blade 13 is connected to the lower end side of the stirring shaft 11.
  • the shape of the stirring blade 13 does not matter as long as the content 31 can be appropriately stirred in the container 3.
  • the driving means 15 rotates the stirring shaft 11.
  • the drive means 15 may be, for example, a motor provided outside the container 3.
  • the microwave processing device 1 shows a case where the microwave processing device 1 has a stirring shaft 11, a stirring blade 13, and a driving means 15 (hereinafter, these may be referred to as stirring means), but the content 31 If it is not necessary to stir, the microwave processing device 1 may not have a stirring means.
  • the hollow portion 3a of the container 3 has been described as having a cylindrical shape (round pillar shape), but even when the cross section of the hollow portion 3a is an ellipse or other annular shape deviated from a perfect circle. , The spirit of the invention is applicable as well.
  • a hollow portion 3a having an annular shape whose cross section is deviated from a perfect circle is referred to as a "round pillar-like shape" in the present specification. If the central axis of the columnar shape cannot be defined exactly, the present specification uses any of the central axes of the hollow portion 3a obtained by approximating each cross section of the columnar shape with a circular shape in which the central point can be defined. You just have to interpret the description in the book.
  • the hollow portion 3a may have a prismatic shape (square pillar-like shape) or a prismatic shape (square pillar-like shape) in which each cross section is a rectangular shape deviated from a regular quadrangle. If the central axis of the prismatic shape cannot be defined exactly, the present specification uses any of the central axes of the hollow portion 3a obtained by approximating each cross section of the prismatic shape with a rectangular shape in which the center point can be defined. You just have to interpret the description in the book. More generally, the hollow portion 3a may have a pillar shape (pillar shape).
  • microwave processing device 1 has the microwave generator 5
  • the microwave processing device 1 does not have to have the microwave generator 5.
  • the valve of the inflow pipe 21 is opened to allow the contents 31 to flow into the hollow portion 3a of the container 3.
  • the valve of the inflow pipe 21 is closed.
  • the microwave is generated by the microwave generator 5.
  • the microwave generated by the microwave generator 5 is introduced into the hollow portion 3a via the waveguide 7 and irradiates the content 31.
  • the contents 31 are heated by the irradiation of the microwave and a predetermined process is performed.
  • the microwave is provided by the waveguide 7 having the portion 7a protruding from the upper inner surface 3b.
  • the electric field strength of the upper inner surface 3b does not increase due to the irradiation, and the potential difference between the falling droplet and the upper inner surface 3b does not increase.
  • Comparative Example 1 of FIG. 8A is a simulation result of a microwave processing device without a stirring means
  • Comparative Example 2 of FIG. 8B is a simulation result of a microwave processing device having a stirring means
  • FIGS. 8C to 8F are simulation results of Examples 1 to 4, respectively.
  • the plane including the opening at the tip of the waveguide 7 is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the waveguide 7, and in Examples 3 and 4, the opening at the tip of the waveguide 7 is formed.
  • the including plane is perpendicular to the central axis of the hollow portion 3a.
  • Examples 1 and 3 are simulation results for the microwave processing device 1 without the stirring means
  • Examples 2 and 4 are simulation results for the microwave processing device 1 having the stirring means.
  • the angle between the longitudinal direction of the waveguide and the central axis of the hollow portion was set to 45 °, and the straight line including the central axis of the waveguide intersected with the central axis of the hollow portion.
  • the content was an organic solvent.
  • the whiter region is the region with high electric field strength. Therefore, in Comparative Examples 1 and 2 (FIGS. 8A and 8B), it can be seen that there are regions having high electric field strength at a plurality of locations on the upper inner surface. Where the electric field strength is high, the potential difference is larger even if the distance is shorter. Therefore, in Comparative Examples 1 and 2, when the liquid condensed on the upper inner surface of the hollow portion falls as a droplet, the potential difference between the upper inner surface and the droplet becomes large, and sparks may occur between the two. The sex becomes high.
  • Example 1 to 4 the region where the electric field strength is high is suppressed on the upper inner surface 3b. Therefore, even if the condensed liquid on the upper inner surface 3b falls as a droplet, the potential difference between the upper inner surface 3b and the droplet is smaller than that in Comparative Examples 1 and 2, so that a spark is generated between the two. Is less likely to do. Further, in Examples 1 to 4, since the upper inner surface 3b has a dome shape, the liquid condensed on the upper inner surface 3b flows to the side surface side of the hollow portion 3a along the upper inner surface 3b, and from the upper inner surface 3b. It also reduces the possibility of falling as droplets. In Examples 3 and 4 of FIGS.

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Abstract

[Problem] To provide a microwave processing device capable of reducing the generation of sparks inside a container. [Solution] A microwave processing device 1 equipped with: a container 3 which has a columnar hollow section 3a for housing liquid contents 31 to be targeted for batch processing using microwaves, and also has an upper inside surface 3b, the height of which is lower in a direction toward the periphery from the center axis when positioned in a manner such that the center axis direction of the hollow section 3a is the vertical direction; a microwave generator 5 for generating microwaves; and a waveguide 7 which introduces microwaves generated by the microwave generator 5 into the hollow section 3a, and has a section 7a which projects into the hollow section 3a from the upper inside surface 3b.

Description

マイクロ波処理装置、及びマイクロ波処理方法Microwave processing device and microwave processing method
　本発明は、液相の対象物にマイクロ波を照射するためのマイクロ波処理装置、及びマイクロ波処理方法に関する。 The present invention relates to a microwave processing apparatus for irradiating an object in a liquid phase with microwaves, and a microwave processing method.
　液相系の反応を行う反応器において、バッチ処理を行う場合、原料及び必要な溶媒を当該反応器に投入し、温度及び圧力を設定する。そして、マイクロ波を照射することにより反応を促進し、目的物が得られる。その後、温度を下げ、必要に応じて圧力を常圧に戻し、目的物、副生物及び溶媒が回収され、必要な回数処理が繰り返される。 When performing batch processing in a reactor that performs a liquid phase reaction, the raw materials and necessary solvent are charged into the reactor, and the temperature and pressure are set. Then, by irradiating with microwaves, the reaction is promoted and the target product is obtained. After that, the temperature is lowered, the pressure is returned to normal pressure as necessary, the target substance, by-products and solvent are recovered, and the treatment is repeated as many times as necessary.
　液相系の反応においては、反応に伴い発生するガスに起因するスパークが問題となる。ガスが反応器の内壁で凝縮して生じる液滴が内壁から滴下する際に液滴と内壁との間に電位差が生じ、それに伴いスパークが発生する。特に、反応器の上内面には液滴が凝縮しやすい傾向にあり、スパークの一要因となっている。スパークは着火点となり、反応器内のガスの燃焼、ひいては爆発を引き起こすおそれがあり、安全性の観点から抑制が望まれる。 In the liquid phase reaction, sparks caused by the gas generated by the reaction become a problem. When the droplets generated by the condensation of the gas on the inner wall of the reactor are dropped from the inner wall, a potential difference is generated between the droplets and the inner wall, and sparks are generated accordingly. In particular, droplets tend to condense on the upper and inner surfaces of the reactor, which is one of the causes of sparks. The spark becomes an ignition point and may cause combustion of gas in the reactor, which in turn may cause an explosion, and suppression is desired from the viewpoint of safety.
　こうしたガスに起因するスパークは、化学反応のための反応器に限らず、液相系の内容物にマイクロ波を照射する容器一般において問題となる。 Sparks caused by such gases are a problem not only in reactors for chemical reactions but also in containers that irradiate the contents of liquid phase systems with microwaves in general.
　本発明は、このような問題点に鑑みてなされたものであり、その目的は、液相の対象物にマイクロ波を照射するためのマイクロ波処理装置及びマイクロ波処理方法において、容器内のスパーク発生を抑制することにある。 The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is a spark in a container in a microwave processing apparatus and a microwave processing method for irradiating an object in a liquid phase with microwaves. It is to suppress the occurrence.
　上記目的を達成するため、本発明の一態様によるマイクロ波処理装置は、液相内容物を収容するための柱形状の中空部を有する容器であって、中空部の中心軸方向が鉛直方向となるように配置された際に、少なくとも一部の領域において、中心軸から周辺に向かう方向に沿って高さが低くなる上内面を有する容器と、上内面から中空部側に突き出た部分を有する、中空部にマイクロ波を導入するための導波管と、を備えたものである。 In order to achieve the above object, the microwave processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention is a container having a column-shaped hollow portion for accommodating the liquid phase contents, and the central axial direction of the hollow portion is the vertical direction. It has a container with an upper inner surface that becomes lower in height along the direction from the central axis toward the periphery, and a portion protruding from the upper inner surface toward the hollow portion in at least a part of the region when arranged so as to be. , A waveguide for introducing microwaves into the hollow portion.
　また、本発明の一態様によるマイクロ波処理装置では、マイクロ波を発生させるマイクロ波発生器をさらに備え、マイクロ波発生器によって発生されたマイクロ波が、導波管を介して中空部に導入されてもよい。 Further, the microwave processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention further includes a microwave generator that generates microwaves, and the microwave generated by the microwave generator is introduced into the hollow portion via a waveguide. You may.
　また、本発明の一態様によるマイクロ波処理装置では、容器の上内面を貫通し、中空部の中心軸と同軸になるように設けられた撹拌軸と、撹拌軸に接続された撹拌翼とをさらに備えてもよい。 Further, in the microwave processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, a stirring shaft provided so as to penetrate the upper inner surface of the container and coaxial with the central axis of the hollow portion, and a stirring blade connected to the stirring shaft are provided. You may also prepare further.
　また、本発明の一態様によるマイクロ波処理装置では、導波管は、導波管の中心軸が中空部の中心軸に対して角度を有するように設けられていてもよい。 Further, in the microwave processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the waveguide may be provided so that the central axis of the waveguide has an angle with respect to the central axis of the hollow portion.
　また、本発明の一態様によるマイクロ波処理装置では、導波管の先端の開口を含む平面は、中空部の中心軸に対して垂直であってもよい。 Further, in the microwave processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the plane including the opening at the tip of the waveguide may be perpendicular to the central axis of the hollow portion.
　また、本発明の一態様によるマイクロ波処理装置では、中空部の上内面の表面は、内容物に対する濡れ性がよくてもよい。 Further, in the microwave processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the surface of the upper inner surface of the hollow portion may have good wettability to the contents.
　また、本発明の一態様によるマイクロ波処理装置では、容器には、容器の外方側に突出しており、一端が上内面において中空部と連通している外筒部が設けられており、導波管は、一端が上内面から中空部側に突き出るように外筒部の内側に配置された内筒導波管を有してもよい。 Further, in the microwave processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the container is provided with an outer cylinder portion that protrudes to the outer side of the container and one end of which communicates with the hollow portion on the upper inner surface. The wave tube may have an inner cylinder waveguide arranged inside the outer cylinder portion so that one end protrudes from the upper inner surface toward the hollow portion.
　また、本発明の一態様によるマイクロ波処理装置では、導波管は、容器に設けられた開口を貫通するように設けられており、開口において、導波管と容器とは溶接されていてもよい。 Further, in the microwave processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the waveguide is provided so as to penetrate the opening provided in the container, and even if the waveguide and the container are welded at the opening. good.
　また、本発明の一態様によるマイクロ波処理装置では、導波管は、容器に設けられた開口を挟んで対向するように設けられた、容器の外側の導波管と、容器の内側の導波管とを有しており、容器の内側の導波管は、容器に対して着脱可能に設けられていてもよい。 Further, in the microwave processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the waveguide is provided so as to face each other across the opening provided in the container, the waveguide on the outside of the container and the guide on the inside of the container. It has a wave tube, and the waveguide inside the container may be detachably provided with respect to the container.
　また、本発明の一態様によるマイクロ波処理方法は、液相の内容物が入れられる柱形状の中空部を有する容器であって、中空部の中心軸方向が鉛直方向となるように配置された容器の中空部に、内容物を流入させるステップと、マイクロ波を、容器の上内面から中空部側に突き出た部分を有する導波管を介して内容物に照射するステップとを含み、上内面は、少なくとも一部の領域において、中心軸から周辺に向かう方向に沿って高さが低くなる、ものである。 Further, the microwave processing method according to one aspect of the present invention is a container having a column-shaped hollow portion in which the contents of the liquid phase are placed, and is arranged so that the central axis direction of the hollow portion is the vertical direction. The upper inner surface includes a step of inflowing the contents into the hollow portion of the container and a step of irradiating the contents with a microwave through a waveguide having a portion protruding from the upper inner surface of the container toward the hollow portion. Is that the height decreases along the direction from the central axis toward the periphery, at least in a part of the region.
　本発明の一態様によれば、容器内のスパークの発生を抑制することができる。 According to one aspect of the present invention, the generation of sparks in the container can be suppressed.
本発明の実施の形態によるマイクロ波処理装置の構成を示す正面図Front view showing the configuration of the microwave processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 同実施の形態によるマイクロ波処理装置を示す平面図A plan view showing a microwave processing apparatus according to the same embodiment. 同実施の形態によるマイクロ波処理装置を示す縦断面図A vertical sectional view showing a microwave processing apparatus according to the same embodiment. 同実施の形態によるマイクロ波処理装置の他の一例を示す縦断面図A vertical sectional view showing another example of the microwave processing apparatus according to the same embodiment. 同実施の形態におけると導波管との接続状況を示す断面図Cross-sectional view showing the connection state with the waveguide in the same embodiment. 同実施の形態における容器と導波管との接続状況の他の一例を示す断面図Cross-sectional view showing another example of the connection state between the container and the waveguide in the same embodiment. 同実施の形態における容器と導波管との接続状況の他の一例を示す断面図Cross-sectional view showing another example of the connection state between the container and the waveguide in the same embodiment. 比較例１のシミュレーション結果を示す図The figure which shows the simulation result of the comparative example 1. 比較例２のシミュレーション結果を示す図The figure which shows the simulation result of the comparative example 2. 実施例１のシミュレーション結果を示す図The figure which shows the simulation result of Example 1. 実施例２のシミュレーション結果を示す図The figure which shows the simulation result of Example 2. 実施例３のシミュレーション結果を示す図The figure which shows the simulation result of Example 3. 実施例４のシミュレーション結果を示す図The figure which shows the simulation result of Example 4.
　以下、本発明によるマイクロ波処理装置、及びマイクロ波処理方法について、実施の形態を用いて説明する。なお、以下の実施の形態において、同じ符号を付した構成要素は同一または相当するものであり、再度の説明を省略することがある。本実施の形態によるマイクロ波処理装置が備える容器は、一例として、当該容器が有する中空部の上内面がドーム形状になっている。そして、上内面から中空部側に突き出た導波管を介してマイクロ波が容器内に導入されて液相の内容物に照射される。 Hereinafter, the microwave processing apparatus and the microwave processing method according to the present invention will be described with reference to embodiments. In the following embodiments, the components with the same reference numerals are the same or correspond to each other, and the description thereof may be omitted again. As an example, the container provided in the microwave processing apparatus according to the present embodiment has a dome shape on the upper inner surface of the hollow portion of the container. Then, microwaves are introduced into the container through the waveguide protruding from the upper inner surface to the hollow portion side, and the contents of the liquid phase are irradiated.
　図１は、本実施の形態によるマイクロ波処理装置１の構成を示す正面図である。図２は、マイクロ波処理装置１の平面図である。図３は、マイクロ波処理装置１の縦断面図である。図３では、説明の便宜上、マイクロ波発生器５、撹拌軸１１などを省略している。 FIG. 1 is a front view showing the configuration of the microwave processing device 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the microwave processing device 1. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the microwave processing device 1. In FIG. 3, for convenience of explanation, the microwave generator 5, the stirring shaft 11, and the like are omitted.
　マイクロ波処理装置１は、円柱形状の中空部３ａを有する容器３と、マイクロ波を中空部３ａに導入する導波管７とを備え、さらにマイクロ波発生器５と、撹拌軸１１と、撹拌軸１１に取り付けられた撹拌翼１３と、撹拌軸１１を回転させる駆動手段１５とを必要に応じて備えることができる。なお、以下の説明では、容器３の円柱形状である中空部３ａの中心軸が鉛直方向となるように配置された際の上下を、上下ということにする。また、鉛直方向とは、厳密な鉛直方向であってもよく、厳密な鉛直方向に対して、容器３の設置誤差程度の微小角度だけずれた方向を含んでもよい。 The microwave processing device 1 includes a container 3 having a cylindrical hollow portion 3a, a waveguide 7 for introducing microwaves into the hollow portion 3a, a microwave generator 5, a stirring shaft 11, and stirring. A stirring blade 13 attached to the shaft 11 and a driving means 15 for rotating the stirring shaft 11 can be provided as needed. In the following description, the upper and lower parts when the central axis of the hollow portion 3a having a cylindrical shape of the container 3 is arranged in the vertical direction are referred to as upper and lower parts. Further, the vertical direction may be a strict vertical direction, or may include a direction deviated from the strict vertical direction by a small angle of about an installation error of the container 3.
　容器３は、マイクロ波を用いたバッチ処理の対象となる液相の内容物３１を収容するための円柱形状の中空部３ａを有する。中空部３ａは、例えば、円柱形状の部分と、その円柱形状の中心軸方向の一端または両端において、ドーム形状、半球形状などのように外方側に膨らんだ部分とを有する形状であってもよい。また、中空部３ａは、中心軸を回転軸とする回転体形状であってもよい。中空部３ａは、通常、マイクロ波が閉じ込められる空間である。そのため、容器３は、マイクロ波を通過しない材料によって構成されることが好適である。マイクロ波を通過しない材料は、マイクロ波反射性の材料であってもよい。マイクロ波反射性の材料は、例えば、金属であってもよい。金属は、特に限定されるものではないが、例えば、ステンレス鋼、炭素鋼、ニッケル、ニッケル合金、銅、銅合金などであってもよい。 The container 3 has a cylindrical hollow portion 3a for accommodating the contents 31 of the liquid phase to be batch-processed using microwaves. The hollow portion 3a may have, for example, a cylindrical portion and an outwardly bulging portion such as a dome shape or a hemispherical shape at one end or both ends of the cylindrical shape in the central axial direction. good. Further, the hollow portion 3a may have a shape of a rotating body having a central axis as a rotation axis. The hollow portion 3a is usually a space in which microwaves are confined. Therefore, it is preferable that the container 3 is made of a material that does not pass microwaves. The material that does not pass through microwaves may be a microwave-reflecting material. The microwave reflective material may be, for example, a metal. The metal is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, stainless steel, carbon steel, nickel, nickel alloy, copper, copper alloy, or the like.
　液相の内容物３１は、例えば、液体であってもよく、スラリーであってもよく、その他の液相のものであってもよい。具体的には、液相の内容物３１は、目的とする生成物の原料及び必要な溶媒とすることができる。内容物３１に対して行われるマイクロ波を用いたバッチ処理は、特に限定されるものではないが、例えば、加熱処理、化学反応処理、殺菌処理などであってもよい。化学反応処理は特に限定されるものではないが、例えば、エステル化反応、エステル交換反応などによってバイオディーゼル燃料、糖脂肪酸エステルなどを生成する処理であってもよく、還元反応によって金属ナノ粒子を生成する処理であってもよく、その他の化学反応処理であってもよい。内容物３１に対して化学反応処理が行われる場合には、容器３は反応器であってもよい。また、内容物３１へのバッチ処理は、例えば、常圧、減圧下、または加圧下で行われてもよい。 The liquid phase content 31 may be, for example, a liquid, a slurry, or another liquid phase. Specifically, the liquid phase content 31 can be a raw material for the desired product and a required solvent. The batch treatment using microwaves performed on the content 31 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a heat treatment, a chemical reaction treatment, a sterilization treatment, or the like. The chemical reaction treatment is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a treatment for producing a biodiesel fuel, a sugar fatty acid ester, or the like by an esterification reaction, a transesterification reaction, or the like, and metal nanoparticles are produced by a reduction reaction. It may be a treatment to be carried out, or it may be another chemical reaction treatment. When the contents 31 are subjected to a chemical reaction treatment, the container 3 may be a reactor. Further, the batch processing on the content 31 may be performed, for example, under normal pressure, reduced pressure, or pressurized.
　容器３は、内容物３１を中空部３ａに入れるための流入管２１と、中空部３ａから内容物３１を排出するための流出管２３とを有していてもよい。流入管２１、流出管２３には、バルブが設けられていてもよい。そして、容器３内でバッチ処理が行われている場合には、内容物３１の流入及び流出が行われないようにしてもよい。流入管２１、及び流出管２３も、マイクロ波を通過しない材料によって構成されることが好適である。また、流入管２１、流出管２３を介したマイクロ波の漏洩を防止するため、流入管２１、流出管２３の内径、取り付け位置などが決められてもよく、流入管２１の流入口、流出管２３の流出口にマイクロ波の漏洩を防止するための金属製のパンチングボード、金属製の網などを配置してもよい。なお、図１では、流入管２１が内容物３１の液面３１ａより高い位置に設けられており、流出管２３が中空部３ａの最も低い位置に設けられている場合について示しているが、図１で示される位置以外に流入管２１、流出管２３が配置されてもよい。また、容器３は、例えば、蒸気を抜くための排気口を上内面３ｂなどに有していてもよい。 The container 3 may have an inflow pipe 21 for putting the contents 31 into the hollow portion 3a and an outflow pipe 23 for discharging the contents 31 from the hollow portion 3a. A valve may be provided in the inflow pipe 21 and the outflow pipe 23. Then, when the batch processing is performed in the container 3, the inflow and outflow of the contents 31 may be prevented. It is preferable that the inflow pipe 21 and the outflow pipe 23 are also made of a material that does not allow microwaves to pass through. Further, in order to prevent the leakage of microwaves through the inflow pipe 21 and the outflow pipe 23, the inner diameter, the mounting position, etc. of the inflow pipe 21 and the outflow pipe 23 may be determined, and the inflow port and the outflow pipe of the inflow pipe 21 may be determined. A metal punching board, a metal net, or the like may be arranged at the outlet of the 23 to prevent the leakage of microwaves. Note that FIG. 1 shows a case where the inflow pipe 21 is provided at a position higher than the liquid level 31a of the content 31 and the outflow pipe 23 is provided at the lowest position of the hollow portion 3a. The inflow pipe 21 and the outflow pipe 23 may be arranged in addition to the positions indicated by 1. Further, the container 3 may have, for example, an exhaust port for removing steam on the upper inner surface 3b or the like.
　容器３は、中空部３ａの中心軸方向が鉛直方向となるように配置された場合に、中心から周辺に向かう方向に沿って高さが低くなる上内面３ｂを有する。その上内面３ｂは、例えば、ドーム形状であってもよく、半球面形状であってもよく、円錐面形状であってもよく、中心から周辺に向かう方向に沿って高さが低くなるその他の形状であってもよい。なお、本実施の形態では、図１、図３で示されるように、上内面３ｂがドーム形状である場合について主に説明する。上内面３ｂを、中心軸から周辺に向かう方向に沿って高さが低くなるようにすることによって、上内面３ｂで生じた液滴が上内面３ｂから落下せずに内壁を伝って側面に移動することが促され、液滴落下に伴うスパークが抑制される。本実施の形態では、上内面３ｂ全体において、中心から周辺に向かう方向に沿って高さが低くなるものとして記述しているが、上内面３ｂの少なくとも一部の領域において、中心軸から周辺に向かう方向に沿って高さが低くなるようにすることによって、液滴落下に伴うスパークを一定程度抑制することができる。 The container 3 has an upper inner surface 3b whose height is lowered along the direction from the center to the periphery when the hollow portion 3a is arranged so that the central axis direction is the vertical direction. Further, the inner surface 3b may be, for example, a dome shape, a hemispherical shape, a conical surface shape, or the like, and the height decreases along the direction from the center to the periphery. It may be in shape. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the case where the upper inner surface 3b has a dome shape will be mainly described. By making the upper inner surface 3b lower in height along the direction from the central axis toward the periphery, the droplets generated on the upper inner surface 3b move to the side surface along the inner wall without falling from the upper inner surface 3b. It is promoted to do so, and the spark caused by the drop of droplets is suppressed. In the present embodiment, it is described that the height of the entire upper inner surface 3b decreases in the direction from the center to the periphery, but in at least a part of the upper inner surface 3b, from the central axis to the periphery. By making the height lower along the direction toward which the droplet is directed, it is possible to suppress sparks caused by dropping droplets to a certain extent.
　導波管７は、マイクロ波発生器５によって発生されたマイクロ波を中空部３ａに導入する。このようにして中空部３ａに導入されたマイクロ波が内容物３１に照射される。中空部３ａにおけるマイクロ波の照射は、マルチモードで行うことができる。導波管７は、上内面３ｂに突き出た部分７ａを有する。その突き出た部分７ａは、上内面３ｂから中空部３ａ側に突き出ている部分である。発明者らは、この突き出た部分７ａを存在させることによって、中空部３ａの上内面３ｂにおけるマイクロ波の電界集中を抑えられることを見出した。その結果として、上内面３ｂから落下する液滴と上内面３ｂとの間の電位差が低減し、液滴落下が生じたとしても、スパーク発生が抑制される。 The waveguide 7 introduces the microwave generated by the microwave generator 5 into the hollow portion 3a. The microwave introduced into the hollow portion 3a in this way irradiates the content 31. Irradiation of microwaves in the hollow portion 3a can be performed in a multi-mode. The waveguide 7 has a portion 7a protruding from the upper inner surface 3b. The protruding portion 7a is a portion protruding from the upper inner surface 3b toward the hollow portion 3a. The inventors have found that the presence of this protruding portion 7a can suppress the electric field concentration of microwaves on the upper inner surface 3b of the hollow portion 3a. As a result, the potential difference between the droplet falling from the upper inner surface 3b and the upper inner surface 3b is reduced, and even if the droplet falls, the spark generation is suppressed.
　導波管７は、具体的には、中空導波管であってもよい。また、導波管７は、通常、断面が矩形状である矩形導波管であるが、断面が円形状である円形導波管であってもよい。本実施の形態では、導波管７が矩形導波管である場合について主に説明する。 Specifically, the waveguide 7 may be a hollow waveguide. Further, the waveguide 7 is usually a rectangular waveguide having a rectangular cross section, but may be a circular waveguide having a circular cross section. In this embodiment, the case where the waveguide 7 is a rectangular waveguide will be mainly described.
　中空部３ａの上内面３ｂの表面は、内容物３１に対する濡れ性がよくてもよい。この場合には、例えば、容器３の上内面３ｂそのものが、内容物３１に対する濡れ性のよい物質によって構成されていてもよく、中空部３ａの上内面３ｂに、内容物３１に対する濡れ性のよい物質のコーティングがなされていてもよい。内容物３１に対する濡れ性のよい物質は、内容物３１に水が含まれており、上内面３ｂで水が凝縮する場合には、例えば、親水性を有する酸化チタンであってもよい。また、内容物３１に水が含まれており、上内面３ｂで水が凝縮する場合において、容器３の上内面３ｂにセラミックコーティングを施してもよい。また、例えば、容器３の上内面３ｂに対して、内容物３１に対する濡れ性をよくする表面処理がなされていてもよい。その表面処理は、例えば、表面の凹凸を小さくする処理であってもよく、表面粗さを小さくする処理であってもよい。そのような表面処理の一例として、バフ掛けなどの研磨加工を挙げることができる。内容物３１に対する濡れ性のよい表面は、例えば、内容物３１に対する接触角が９０°以下となる表面であってもよく、その接触角が８０°以下となる表面であってもよく、その接触角が７０°以下となる表面であってもよく、その接触角が６０°以下となる表面であってもよく、その接触角が５０°以下となる表面であってもよい。内容物３１と上内面３ｂの表面との親和性が高いほど、上内面３ｂにおいて凝縮した内容物３１の液体が液滴として落下する可能性を低減することができる。したがって、上内面３ｂの表面における内容物３１に対する接触角はより小さい方が好適である。 The surface of the upper inner surface 3b of the hollow portion 3a may have good wettability with respect to the content 31. In this case, for example, the upper inner surface 3b of the container 3 itself may be composed of a substance having good wettability to the content 31, and the upper inner surface 3b of the hollow portion 3a has good wettability to the content 31. It may be coated with a substance. When the content 31 contains water and the water condenses on the upper inner surface 3b, the substance having good wettability to the content 31 may be, for example, titanium oxide having hydrophilicity. Further, when the content 31 contains water and the water condenses on the upper inner surface 3b, the ceramic coating may be applied to the upper inner surface 3b of the container 3. Further, for example, the upper inner surface 3b of the container 3 may be surface-treated to improve the wettability with respect to the content 31. The surface treatment may be, for example, a treatment for reducing the unevenness of the surface or a treatment for reducing the surface roughness. As an example of such a surface treatment, a polishing process such as buffing can be mentioned. The surface having good wettability to the content 31 may be, for example, a surface having a contact angle of 90 ° or less with respect to the content 31, or a surface having a contact angle of 80 ° or less, and the contact thereof may be made. It may be a surface having an angle of 70 ° or less, a surface having a contact angle of 60 ° or less, or a surface having a contact angle of 50 ° or less. The higher the affinity between the content 31 and the surface of the upper inner surface 3b, the less likely the liquid of the content 31 condensed on the upper inner surface 3b will fall as a droplet. Therefore, it is preferable that the contact angle of the upper inner surface 3b with respect to the content 31 is smaller.
　マイクロ波発生器５は、マイクロ波を発生させる。マイクロ波発生器５は、例えば、マグネトロン、クライストロン、ジャイロトロンなどを用いてマイクロ波を発生させてもよく、半導体素子を用いてマイクロ波を発生させてもよい。マイクロ波の周波数は、例えば、９１５ＭＨｚ、２．４５ＧＨｚ、５．８ＧＨｚ、２４ＧＨｚであってもよく、その他の３００ＭＨｚから３００ＧＨｚの範囲内の周波数であってもよい。また、マイクロ波の強度は、図示しない制御部によって適宜、制御されてもよい。その制御は、例えば、内容物３１の温度などのセンシング結果を用いたフィードバック制御であってもよい。 The microwave generator 5 generates microwaves. The microwave generator 5 may generate microwaves by using, for example, a magnetron, a klystron, a gyrotron, or the like, or may generate microwaves by using a semiconductor element. The frequency of the microwave may be, for example, 915 MHz, 2.45 GHz, 5.8 GHz, 24 GHz, or another frequency in the range of 300 MHz to 300 GHz. Further, the intensity of the microwave may be appropriately controlled by a control unit (not shown). The control may be, for example, feedback control using a sensing result such as the temperature of the content 31.
　導波管７の中心軸は、例えば、図３で示されるように、中空部３ａの中心軸に対して角度θを有していることが好ましい。なお、図３において、中空部３ａの中心軸を一点鎖線で示している。導波管７の中心軸が、中空部３ａの中心軸に対して角度を有する場合に、導波管７の中心軸と、中空部３ａの中心軸とのなす角度は、例えば、２０°～７０°の範囲内であってもよく、３０°～６０°の範囲内であってもよく、４０°～５０°の範囲内であってもよい。また、この角度は４５°であってもよい。角度θを与えることによって、照射したマイクロ波が反射して導波管７に戻り、照射効率を低下させることを抑制することができる。 The central axis of the waveguide 7 preferably has an angle θ with respect to the central axis of the hollow portion 3a, for example, as shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the central axis of the hollow portion 3a is shown by a alternate long and short dash line. When the central axis of the waveguide 7 has an angle with respect to the central axis of the hollow portion 3a, the angle formed by the central axis of the waveguide 7 and the central axis of the hollow portion 3a is, for example, 20 ° to It may be in the range of 70 °, in the range of 30 ° to 60 °, or in the range of 40 ° to 50 °. Further, this angle may be 45 °. By giving the angle θ, it is possible to prevent the irradiated microwaves from being reflected and returning to the waveguide 7 to reduce the irradiation efficiency.
　導波管７の中心軸が、中空部３ａの中心軸に対して角度を有する場合に、中空部３ａの中心軸と、導波管７の中心軸を含む直線とが交わるように導波管７が設けられてもよい。なお、図３では、導波管７の中心軸を含む直線を破線で示している。また、中空部３ａの中心軸と、導波管７の中心軸を含む直線とが交わる場合には、図３で示されるように、両者の交点４１が、内容物３１の液面３１ａ上になってもよい。この場合には、液面中心にマイクロ波が照射されることになり、効率のよいマイクロ波の照射を実現することができる。なお、導波管７が、マイクロ波発生器５から中空部３ａにおける先端の開口までの一部において曲がっている場合には、導波管７の中心軸を含む直線は、導波管７の先端側の中心軸を含む直線であってもよい。 When the central axis of the waveguide 7 has an angle with respect to the central axis of the hollow portion 3a, the waveguide so that the central axis of the hollow portion 3a and the straight line including the central axis of the waveguide 7 intersect. 7 may be provided. In FIG. 3, a straight line including the central axis of the waveguide 7 is shown by a broken line. Further, when the central axis of the hollow portion 3a and the straight line including the central axis of the waveguide 7 intersect, the intersection 41 of both is on the liquid surface 31a of the content 31 as shown in FIG. You may become. In this case, the microwave is irradiated to the center of the liquid surface, and efficient microwave irradiation can be realized. When the waveguide 7 is bent at a part from the microwave generator 5 to the opening at the tip of the hollow portion 3a, the straight line including the central axis of the waveguide 7 is the waveguide 7. It may be a straight line including the central axis on the tip side.
　また、図４に示すように、導波管７の中空部３ａ側の先端の開口を含む平面は、中空部３ａの中心軸に対して垂直になっていてもよい。すなわち、導波管７の先端の開口を含む平面は、内容物３１の液面３１ａと平行になっていてもよい。なお、図４では、導波管７の先端の開口を含む平面、及び導波管７の中心軸を破線で示している。このように、導波管７の先端の開口を含む平面が、導波管７の中心軸に対して垂直以外の角度となるようにすることによって、導波管７の先端から出力されるマイクロ波の向きを変更することができる。図４において、導波管７の中心軸と、導波管７の先端の開口を含む平面とのなす角度φは、例えば、２０°～９０°の範囲内であってもよい。通常、導波管７の先端から出力されるマイクロ波は、導波管７の先端の開口を含む平面に垂直な方向に放射されることになる。したがって、図４で示される場合には、導波管７から放射されたマイクロ波が、図中の矢印で示されるように、概ね内容物３１の液面３１ａに垂直な方向に進むことになり、上内面３ｂにおける電界集中を抑えられる。 Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the plane including the opening at the tip of the waveguide 7 on the hollow portion 3a side may be perpendicular to the central axis of the hollow portion 3a. That is, the plane including the opening at the tip of the waveguide 7 may be parallel to the liquid surface 31a of the content 31. In FIG. 4, the plane including the opening at the tip of the waveguide 7 and the central axis of the waveguide 7 are shown by broken lines. In this way, the plane including the opening at the tip of the waveguide 7 is set to an angle other than perpendicular to the central axis of the waveguide 7, so that the micro is output from the tip of the waveguide 7. You can change the direction of the waves. In FIG. 4, the angle φ formed by the central axis of the waveguide 7 and the plane including the opening at the tip of the waveguide 7 may be, for example, in the range of 20 ° to 90 °. Normally, the microwave output from the tip of the waveguide 7 is radiated in the direction perpendicular to the plane including the opening at the tip of the waveguide 7. Therefore, in the case shown in FIG. 4, the microwave emitted from the waveguide 7 travels in a direction substantially perpendicular to the liquid level 31a of the content 31 as indicated by the arrow in the figure. , The electric field concentration on the upper inner surface 3b can be suppressed.
　導波管７のいずれかの箇所には、中空部３ａ側からマイクロ波発生器５側に蒸気、粒子などが移動しないようにするため、マイクロ波透過性の窓が設けられてもよい。その窓は、例えば、石英、ガラス、ポリテトラフルオロエチレンなどのフッ素樹脂、セラミックなどのマイクロ波透過性材料によって構成されてもよい。また、その窓は、例えば、気密窓であってもよく、または、気密ではない窓であってもよい。 A microwave transmissive window may be provided at any part of the waveguide 7 in order to prevent steam, particles, etc. from moving from the hollow portion 3a side to the microwave generator 5 side. The window may be made of, for example, quartz, glass, a fluororesin such as polytetrafluoroethylene, or a microwave-permeable material such as ceramic. Further, the window may be, for example, an airtight window or a non-airtight window.
　次に、導波管７と容器３との接続構造について説明する。図５で示されるように、導波管７は、容器３に設けられた開口３ｃを貫通するように設けられており、開口３ｃにおいて、導波管７と容器３とは溶接されていてもよい。図５の断面図では、容器３の外周側、及び内周側（すなわち、中空部３ａの上内面３ｂ）の両方において溶接５１が行われている場合について示しているが、いずれか一方のみの溶接が行われてもよい。溶接５１は、導波管７の外周側を１周するように設けられることが好適である。開口３ｃからのマイクロ波の漏洩を防止するためである。 Next, the connection structure between the waveguide 7 and the container 3 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the waveguide 7 is provided so as to penetrate the opening 3c provided in the container 3, and even if the waveguide 7 and the container 3 are welded in the opening 3c. good. The cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 shows a case where welding 51 is performed on both the outer peripheral side and the inner peripheral side (that is, the upper inner surface 3b of the hollow portion 3a) of the container 3, but only one of them is shown. Welding may be performed. It is preferable that the welding 51 is provided so as to make one round around the outer peripheral side of the waveguide 7. This is to prevent the leakage of microwaves from the opening 3c.
　また、図６で示されるように、導波管７は、容器３に設けられた開口３ｃを挟んで対向するように設けられた、容器３の外側の導波管７－１と、容器３の内側の導波管７－２とを有していてもよい。そして、容器３の内側の導波管７－２は、容器３に対して着脱可能に設けられていてもよい。この場合には、導波管７－２は、例えば、上内面３ｂに設けられたボルト穴、または、上内面３ｂに接続されたフランジに、ボルトで着脱可能に装着されてもよい。図６の断面図では、外側の導波管７－１は、容器３の外周側に溶接されている。また、容器３の上内面３ｂには、導波管７－１、７－２と同じ内径の孔を有するフランジ５３が、溶接５１によって固定されている。そして、導波管７－２のフランジ部５５が、フランジ５３にボルト５７で固定されている。したがって、ボルト５７を外すことによって、内側の導波管７－２を取り外すことができ、内側の導波管７－２を交換することができる。なお、外側の導波管７－１、開口３ｃ、フランジ５３の孔、内側の導波管７－２は、すべて同軸になっており、それらの内周面によってマイクロ波の導波路が形成されているものとする。また、開口３ｃの内径は、導波管７－１，７－２、及びフランジ５３の内径と同じであるとする。このように、内側の導波管７－２が着脱可能になっていることによって、例えば、容器３の内容物３１を多くしたり、少なくしたりする場合に、それに応じた長さの内側の導波管７－２を用いることもできる。例えば、内容物３１の量が少なく、液面３１ａの高さが低くなる場合には、内容物３１のより近くでマイクロ波を照射できるようにするため、より長い内側の導波管７－２を装着してもよい。また逆に、液面３１ａの高さが高くなる場合には、導波管７－２の先端が液面３１ａに接しないようにするため、より短い内側の導波管７－２を装着してもよい。なお、導波管７－２の先端と液面３１ａとが適切な距離となるようにすることによって、例えば、内容物３１が導波管７－２の内部に入る可能性を低減することができる。また、内側の導波管７－２が着脱可能であるため、内容物３１の高さなどに応じて、導波管７－２の先端の開口の形状を変えることもできるようになる。例えば、導波管７－２の中心軸と中空部３ａの中心軸とが角度を有している場合には、液面３１ａが高いときに、先端の開口を含む平面が、導波管７－２の長手方向に垂直になっている導波管７－２を装着し、液面３１ａが低いときに、先端の開口を含む平面が、中空部３ａの中心軸に垂直になっている導波管７－２を装着してもよい。 Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the waveguide 7 is provided so as to face each other with the opening 3c provided in the container 3 interposed therebetween, and the waveguide 7-1 on the outer side of the container 3 and the container 3 are provided. It may have a waveguide 7-2 inside the. The waveguide 7-2 inside the container 3 may be detachably provided with respect to the container 3. In this case, the waveguide 7-2 may be detachably attached by a bolt to, for example, a bolt hole provided in the upper inner surface 3b or a flange connected to the upper inner surface 3b. In the cross-sectional view of FIG. 6, the outer waveguide 7-1 is welded to the outer peripheral side of the container 3. Further, a flange 53 having a hole having the same inner diameter as the waveguides 7-1 and 7-2 is fixed to the upper inner surface 3b of the container 3 by welding 51. The flange portion 55 of the waveguide 7-2 is fixed to the flange 53 with bolts 57. Therefore, by removing the bolt 57, the inner waveguide 7-2 can be removed and the inner waveguide 7-2 can be replaced. The outer waveguide 7-1, the opening 3c, the hole of the flange 53, and the inner waveguide 7-2 are all coaxial, and a microwave waveguide is formed by their inner peripheral surfaces. It is assumed that it is. Further, it is assumed that the inner diameter of the opening 3c is the same as the inner diameter of the waveguides 7-1 and 7-2 and the flange 53. By making the inner waveguide 7-2 removable in this way, for example, when the content 31 of the container 3 is increased or decreased, the inner length of the inner waveguide 7-2 is correspondingly increased or decreased. Waveguide 7-2 can also be used. For example, if the amount of content 31 is small and the height of the liquid level 31a is low, a longer inner waveguide 7-2 can be used to irradiate microwaves closer to the content 31. May be attached. On the contrary, when the height of the liquid surface 31a becomes high, a shorter inner waveguide 7-2 is attached so that the tip of the waveguide 7-2 does not come into contact with the liquid surface 31a. You may. By making the tip of the waveguide 7-2 and the liquid level 31a at an appropriate distance, for example, the possibility that the content 31 enters the inside of the waveguide 7-2 can be reduced. can. Further, since the inner waveguide 7-2 is removable, the shape of the opening at the tip of the waveguide 7-2 can be changed according to the height of the content 31 and the like. For example, when the central axis of the waveguide 7-2 and the central axis of the hollow portion 3a have an angle, when the liquid level 31a is high, the plane including the opening at the tip is the waveguide 7. A waveguide 7-2 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of -2 is attached, and when the liquid level 31a is low, the plane including the opening at the tip is perpendicular to the central axis of the hollow portion 3a. A waveguide 7-2 may be attached.
　また、図７で示されるように、導波管７は、容器３に設けられた外筒部６１の内側に配置された内筒導波管７－３を有していてもよい。図７で示される容器３には、容器３の外方側に突出している外筒部６１が設けられている。外筒部６１の容器３側の一端は、上内面３ｂにおいて、中空部３ａに連通している。また、外筒部６１の中空部３ａと反対側の端部には、フランジ部６２が形成されている。導波管７は、一端が上内面３ｂから中空部３ａ側に突き出るように外筒部６１の内側に配置された内筒導波管７－３と、内筒導波管７－３に気密窓６５を介して接続される導波管７－４とを有している。なお、外筒部６１の内径は、内筒導波管７－３の外径と略同じであることが好適である。内筒導波管７－３における中空部３ａと反対側の端部には、フランジ部６３が形成されている。そして、マイクロ波透過性材料によって構成された透過部６５ａを有する気密窓６５を介して、外筒部６１のフランジ部６２、内筒導波管７－３のフランジ部６３、及び導波管７－４のフランジ部６４を、ボルト６６及びナット６７を用いて締め付けることによって、導波管７を容器３に取り付けることができる。この場合にも、内筒導波管７－３は容器３に対して着脱可能であるため、所望のマイクロ波の照射に応じた内筒導波管７－３を用いることができるようになる。なお、図７では、一例として内筒導波管７－３と導波管７－４とが気密窓６５を介して接続される場合について示しているが、気密窓６５は、存在しなくてもよく、または他の箇所に設けられてもよい。また、内筒導波管７－３は、マイクロ波発生器５に直接接続されてもよい。また、外筒部６１と内筒導波管７－３とは、フランジを用いる以外の方法、例えば、溶接等によって固定されてもよい。 Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the waveguide 7 may have an inner-cylinder waveguide 7-3 arranged inside the outer cylinder portion 61 provided in the container 3. The container 3 shown in FIG. 7 is provided with an outer cylinder portion 61 projecting outward from the container 3. One end of the outer cylinder portion 61 on the container 3 side communicates with the hollow portion 3a on the upper inner surface 3b. Further, a flange portion 62 is formed at an end portion of the outer cylinder portion 61 opposite to the hollow portion 3a. The waveguide 7 is airtight to the inner cylinder waveguide 7-3 and the inner cylinder waveguide 7-3 arranged inside the outer cylinder portion 61 so that one end protrudes from the upper inner surface 3b toward the hollow portion 3a. It has a waveguide 7-4 connected via a window 65. It is preferable that the inner diameter of the outer cylinder portion 61 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the inner cylinder waveguide 7-3. A flange portion 63 is formed at an end portion of the inner cylinder waveguide 7-3 opposite to the hollow portion 3a. Then, through the airtight window 65 having the transmission portion 65a made of the microwave transmissive material, the flange portion 62 of the outer cylinder portion 61, the flange portion 63 of the inner cylinder waveguide 7-3, and the waveguide 7 The waveguide 7 can be attached to the container 3 by tightening the flange portion 64 of -4 with bolts 66 and nuts 67. Also in this case, since the inner cylinder waveguide 7-3 is removable from the container 3, the inner cylinder waveguide 7-3 corresponding to the irradiation of a desired microwave can be used. .. Note that FIG. 7 shows, as an example, a case where the inner cylinder waveguide 7-3 and the waveguide 7-4 are connected via the airtight window 65, but the airtight window 65 does not exist. May be provided or may be provided elsewhere. Further, the inner cylinder waveguide 7-3 may be directly connected to the microwave generator 5. Further, the outer cylinder portion 61 and the inner cylinder waveguide 7-3 may be fixed by a method other than using a flange, for example, by welding or the like.
　撹拌軸１１は、容器３の上内面３ｂを貫通し、中空部３ａの中心軸と同軸になるように設けられている。なお、マイクロ波の漏洩を防止するため、容器３の上面における撹拌軸１１の貫通孔にチョーク構造などのマイクロ波の漏洩防止機構が設けられてもよい。撹拌翼１３は、撹拌軸１１の下端側に接続されている。なお、容器３内において内容物３１を適切に撹拌できるのであれば、撹拌翼１３の形状は問わない。駆動手段１５は、撹拌軸１１を回転させる。駆動手段１５は、例えば、容器３の外部に設けられたモータ等であってもよい。駆動手段１５によって撹拌軸１１が回転されることによって、撹拌軸１１に固定されている撹拌翼１３が回転し、内容物３１が撹拌されることになる。なお、図１では、マイクロ波処理装置１が撹拌軸１１、撹拌翼１３、及び駆動手段１５（以下、これらを撹拌手段と呼ぶことがある。）を有する場合について示しているが、内容物３１を撹拌しなくてもよい場合には、マイクロ波処理装置１は、撹拌手段を有していなくてもよい。 The stirring shaft 11 is provided so as to penetrate the upper inner surface 3b of the container 3 and be coaxial with the central shaft of the hollow portion 3a. In order to prevent microwave leakage, a microwave leakage prevention mechanism such as a choke structure may be provided in the through hole of the stirring shaft 11 on the upper surface of the container 3. The stirring blade 13 is connected to the lower end side of the stirring shaft 11. The shape of the stirring blade 13 does not matter as long as the content 31 can be appropriately stirred in the container 3. The driving means 15 rotates the stirring shaft 11. The drive means 15 may be, for example, a motor provided outside the container 3. When the stirring shaft 11 is rotated by the driving means 15, the stirring blade 13 fixed to the stirring shaft 11 is rotated, and the content 31 is stirred. Note that FIG. 1 shows a case where the microwave processing device 1 has a stirring shaft 11, a stirring blade 13, and a driving means 15 (hereinafter, these may be referred to as stirring means), but the content 31 If it is not necessary to stir, the microwave processing device 1 may not have a stirring means.
　上述の説明では、容器３が有する中空部３ａを円柱形状（ｒｏｕｎｄ　ｐｉｌｌａｒ　ｓｈａｐｅ）であるものとして記述してきたが、中空部３ａの断面が正円からずれた楕円その他の環状形状である場合にも、本発明の精神は同様に適用可能である。このような断面が正円からずれた環状形状であるものの中空部３ａを本明細書では「円柱状形状（ｒｏｕｎｄ　ｐｉｌｌａｒ－ｌｉｋｅ　ｓｈａｐｅ）」と呼ぶ。円柱状形状の中心軸を厳密に定義できない場合、当該円柱状形状の各断面を中心点を定義可能な環状形状で近似して得られる中空部３ａの中心軸のいずれかを用いて、本明細書の記載を解釈すればよい。また、中空部３ａは、角柱形状（ｓｑｕａｒｅ　ｐｉｌｌａｒ　ｓｈａｐｅ）としてもよく、各断面が正四角形からずれた矩形状形状である角柱状形状（ｓｑｕａｒｅ　ｐｉｌｌａｒ－ｌｉｋｅ　ｓｈａｐｅ）としてもよい。角柱状形状の中心軸を厳密に定義できない場合、当該角柱状形状の各断面を中心点を定義可能な矩形形状で近似して得られる中空部３ａの中心軸のいずれかを用いて、本明細書の記載を解釈すればよい。より一般的に、中空部３ａは、柱形状（ｐｉｌｌａｒ　ｓｈａｐｅ）としてもよい。 In the above description, the hollow portion 3a of the container 3 has been described as having a cylindrical shape (round pillar shape), but even when the cross section of the hollow portion 3a is an ellipse or other annular shape deviated from a perfect circle. , The spirit of the invention is applicable as well. Such a hollow portion 3a having an annular shape whose cross section is deviated from a perfect circle is referred to as a "round pillar-like shape" in the present specification. If the central axis of the columnar shape cannot be defined exactly, the present specification uses any of the central axes of the hollow portion 3a obtained by approximating each cross section of the columnar shape with a circular shape in which the central point can be defined. You just have to interpret the description in the book. Further, the hollow portion 3a may have a prismatic shape (square pillar-like shape) or a prismatic shape (square pillar-like shape) in which each cross section is a rectangular shape deviated from a regular quadrangle. If the central axis of the prismatic shape cannot be defined exactly, the present specification uses any of the central axes of the hollow portion 3a obtained by approximating each cross section of the prismatic shape with a rectangular shape in which the center point can be defined. You just have to interpret the description in the book. More generally, the hollow portion 3a may have a pillar shape (pillar shape).
　なお、本実施の形態では、マイクロ波処理装置１がマイクロ波発生器５を有する場合について説明したが、そうでなくてもよい。マイクロ波処理装置１は、マイクロ波発生器５を有していなくてもよい。 In the present embodiment, the case where the microwave processing device 1 has the microwave generator 5 has been described, but it is not necessary. The microwave processing device 1 does not have to have the microwave generator 5.
　また、本発明は、以上の実施の形態に限定されることなく、種々の変更が可能であり、それらも本発明の範囲内に包含されるものであることは言うまでもない。 Further, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention.
　次に、本実施の形態によるマイクロ波処理装置１におけるバッチ処理について説明する。まず、流出管２３のバルブを閉じた状態で、流入管２１のバルブを開け、容器３の中空部３ａに内容物３１を流入させる。あらかじめ決められた量の内容物３１が流入されると、流入管２１のバルブを閉じる。そして、マイクロ波発生器５によってマイクロ波を発生させる。マイクロ波発生器５によって発生されたマイクロ波は、導波管７を介して中空部３ａに導入され、内容物３１に照射される。そのマイクロ波の照射によって内容物３１が加熱され所定の処理が行われる。その処理中に一部の内容物３１が蒸発して中空部３ａの上内面３ｂで凝縮したとしても、凝縮した液体の多くは、上内面３ｂがドーム形状等であるため、上内面３ｂに沿って中空部３ａの側面に流れていき、液滴として落下しにくい。また、上内面３ｂにおいて凝縮した液体の一部が液滴として落下することがあっても、後述するシミュレーション結果で示すように、上内面３ｂに突き出た部分７ａを有する導波管７によってマイクロ波を照射していることによって、上内面３ｂの電界強度は高くなっておらず、落下する液滴と上内面３ｂとの間の電位差は大きくならない。その結果、落下する液滴と上内面３ｂとの間でのスパークの発生を抑えることができる。内容物３１への処理が終了すると、マイクロ波発生器５によるマイクロ波の発生が停止される。また、流出管２３のバルブが開けられ、容器３から内容物３１が排出される。このようにして、一連のバッチ処理が終了となる。 Next, batch processing in the microwave processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. First, with the valve of the outflow pipe 23 closed, the valve of the inflow pipe 21 is opened to allow the contents 31 to flow into the hollow portion 3a of the container 3. When a predetermined amount of the content 31 flows in, the valve of the inflow pipe 21 is closed. Then, the microwave is generated by the microwave generator 5. The microwave generated by the microwave generator 5 is introduced into the hollow portion 3a via the waveguide 7 and irradiates the content 31. The contents 31 are heated by the irradiation of the microwave and a predetermined process is performed. Even if some of the contents 31 evaporate during the process and condense on the upper inner surface 3b of the hollow portion 3a, most of the condensed liquid is along the upper inner surface 3b because the upper inner surface 3b has a dome shape or the like. It flows to the side surface of the hollow portion 3a and does not easily fall as droplets. Further, even if a part of the condensed liquid on the upper inner surface 3b may fall as a droplet, as shown in the simulation result described later, the microwave is provided by the waveguide 7 having the portion 7a protruding from the upper inner surface 3b. The electric field strength of the upper inner surface 3b does not increase due to the irradiation, and the potential difference between the falling droplet and the upper inner surface 3b does not increase. As a result, it is possible to suppress the generation of sparks between the falling droplets and the upper inner surface 3b. When the processing to the contents 31 is completed, the generation of microwaves by the microwave generator 5 is stopped. Further, the valve of the outflow pipe 23 is opened, and the contents 31 are discharged from the container 3. In this way, a series of batch processing is completed.
　次に、比較例と実施例とのシミュレーション結果について説明する。比較例では、上内面がフラットであり、導波管が側面に接続され、中空部への導波管の突き出しのないマイクロ波処理装置に関するシミュレーションを行った。図８Ａの比較例１は、撹拌手段のないマイクロ波処理装置についてのシミュレーション結果であり、図８Ｂの比較例２は、撹拌手段のあるマイクロ波処理装置についてのシミュレーション結果である。また、図８Ｃ～図８Ｆはそれぞれ実施例１～４のシミュレーション結果である。実施例１、２では、導波管７の先端の開口を含む平面が、導波管７の長手方向に垂直となっており、実施例３、４では、導波管７の先端の開口を含む平面が、中空部３ａの中心軸に垂直となっている。また、実施例１、３は、撹拌手段のないマイクロ波処理装置１についてのシミュレーション結果であり、実施例２、４は、撹拌手段のあるマイクロ波処理装置１についてのシミュレーション結果である。これらのシミュレーションでは、導波管の長手方向と、中空部の中心軸とのなす角を４５°とし、導波管の中心軸を含む直線と、中空部の中心軸とが交わるようにした。また、内容物は有機溶媒であるとした。 Next, the simulation results of the comparative example and the embodiment will be described. In the comparative example, a simulation was performed for a microwave processing device in which the upper inner surface is flat, the waveguide is connected to the side surface, and the waveguide does not protrude into the hollow portion. Comparative Example 1 of FIG. 8A is a simulation result of a microwave processing device without a stirring means, and Comparative Example 2 of FIG. 8B is a simulation result of a microwave processing device having a stirring means. Further, FIGS. 8C to 8F are simulation results of Examples 1 to 4, respectively. In Examples 1 and 2, the plane including the opening at the tip of the waveguide 7 is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the waveguide 7, and in Examples 3 and 4, the opening at the tip of the waveguide 7 is formed. The including plane is perpendicular to the central axis of the hollow portion 3a. Further, Examples 1 and 3 are simulation results for the microwave processing device 1 without the stirring means, and Examples 2 and 4 are simulation results for the microwave processing device 1 having the stirring means. In these simulations, the angle between the longitudinal direction of the waveguide and the central axis of the hollow portion was set to 45 °, and the straight line including the central axis of the waveguide intersected with the central axis of the hollow portion. Moreover, it was assumed that the content was an organic solvent.
　図８Ａ～図８Ｆのシミュレーション結果において、より白い領域が電界強度の高い領域である。したがって、比較例１、２（図８Ａ、図８Ｂ）では、上内面の複数の箇所において電界強度の高い領域が存在することが分かる。電界強度が高い箇所では、より短い距離しか離れていなくても、電位差がより大きくなる。したがって、比較例１、２において、中空部の上内面で凝縮した液体が液滴として落下する際には、上内面と液滴との間の電位差が大きくなり、両者間でスパークの発生する可能性が高くなる。 In the simulation results of FIGS. 8A to 8F, the whiter region is the region with high electric field strength. Therefore, in Comparative Examples 1 and 2 (FIGS. 8A and 8B), it can be seen that there are regions having high electric field strength at a plurality of locations on the upper inner surface. Where the electric field strength is high, the potential difference is larger even if the distance is shorter. Therefore, in Comparative Examples 1 and 2, when the liquid condensed on the upper inner surface of the hollow portion falls as a droplet, the potential difference between the upper inner surface and the droplet becomes large, and sparks may occur between the two. The sex becomes high.
　一方、実施例１～４では、上内面３ｂにおいて、電界強度の高い領域が抑制されている。したがって、仮に上内面３ｂにおいて凝縮した液体が液滴として落下したとしても、上内面３ｂと液滴との間の電位差は、比較例１、２と比較して小さいため、両者間でスパークの発生する可能性は低くなる。また、実施例１～４では、上内面３ｂがドーム形状であるため、上内面３ｂにおいて凝縮した液体は、上内面３ｂに沿って中空部３ａの側面側に流れることになり、上内面３ｂから液滴として落下する可能性も低くなる。なお、図８Ｅ、図８Ｆの実施例３、４では、導波管７の先端の下方側の電界強度が高くなっている。したがって、導波管７の先端の開口を含む平面が、中空部３ａの中心軸に垂直であることによって、導波管７の開口から出力されるマイクロ波の向きを下方側に曲げることができていることが分かる。なお、図８Ａ、図８Ｃ、図８Ｅと、図８Ｂ、図８Ｄ、図８Ｆとをそれぞれ比較することによって、撹拌手段の有無に起因する電界強度の変化は大きくないことが分かる。 On the other hand, in Examples 1 to 4, the region where the electric field strength is high is suppressed on the upper inner surface 3b. Therefore, even if the condensed liquid on the upper inner surface 3b falls as a droplet, the potential difference between the upper inner surface 3b and the droplet is smaller than that in Comparative Examples 1 and 2, so that a spark is generated between the two. Is less likely to do. Further, in Examples 1 to 4, since the upper inner surface 3b has a dome shape, the liquid condensed on the upper inner surface 3b flows to the side surface side of the hollow portion 3a along the upper inner surface 3b, and from the upper inner surface 3b. It also reduces the possibility of falling as droplets. In Examples 3 and 4 of FIGS. 8E and 8F, the electric field strength on the lower side of the tip of the waveguide 7 is high. Therefore, since the plane including the opening at the tip of the waveguide 7 is perpendicular to the central axis of the hollow portion 3a, the direction of the microwave output from the opening of the waveguide 7 can be bent downward. You can see that. By comparing FIGS. 8A, 8C, and 8E with FIGS. 8B, 8D, and 8F, it can be seen that the change in the electric field strength due to the presence or absence of the stirring means is not large.

Claims (12)

  1. 　液相内容物を収容するための柱形状の中空部を有する容器であって、前記中空部の中心軸方向が鉛直方向となるように配置された際に、少なくとも一部の領域において、前記中心軸から周辺に向かう方向に沿って高さが低くなる上内面を有する容器と、
    　前記上内面から前記中空部側に突き出た部分を有する、前記中空部にマイクロ波を導入するための導波管と、を備えたマイクロ波処理装置。     A container having a column-shaped hollow portion for accommodating liquid phase contents, and when arranged so that the central axial direction of the hollow portion is the vertical direction, the center is at least in a part of the region. A container with an upper inner surface that decreases in height along the direction from the axis to the periphery,
    A microwave processing apparatus including a waveguide for introducing microwaves into the hollow portion, which has a portion protruding from the upper inner surface toward the hollow portion.
  2. 　前記導波管は、前記上内面の前記少なくとも一部の領域から前記中空部側に突き出ている、請求項１記載のマイクロ波処理装置。 The microwave processing device according to claim 1, wherein the waveguide protrudes from at least a part of the upper inner surface toward the hollow portion.
  3. 　請求項１または請求項２記載のマイクロ波処理装置であって、
    　前記少なくとも一部の領域は、ドーム形状である。     The microwave processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.
    The at least part of the region is dome-shaped.
  4. 　マイクロ波を発生させるマイクロ波発生器をさらに備え、
    　前記マイクロ波発生器によって発生されたマイクロ波が、前記導波管を介して前記中空部に導入される、請求項１から請求項３のいずれか記載のマイクロ波処理装置。     Further equipped with a microwave generator that generates microwaves,
    The microwave processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the microwave generated by the microwave generator is introduced into the hollow portion via the waveguide.
  5. 　前記容器の上内面を貫通し、前記中空部の中心軸と同軸になるように設けられた撹拌軸と、
    　前記撹拌軸に接続された撹拌翼と
    をさらに備えた、請求項１から請求項４のいずれか記載のマイクロ波処理装置。     A stirring shaft that penetrates the upper inner surface of the container and is provided so as to be coaxial with the central axis of the hollow portion.
    The microwave processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a stirring blade connected to the stirring shaft.
  6. 　前記導波管は、当該導波管の中心軸が前記中空部の中心軸に対して角度を有するように設けられている、請求項１から請求項５のいずれか記載のマイクロ波処理装置。 The microwave processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the waveguide is provided so that the central axis of the waveguide has an angle with respect to the central axis of the hollow portion.
  7. 　前記導波管の先端の開口を含む平面は、前記中空部の中心軸に対して垂直である、請求項６記載のマイクロ波処理装置。 The microwave processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the plane including the opening at the tip of the waveguide is perpendicular to the central axis of the hollow portion.
  8. 　前記中空部の上内面の表面は、前記内容物に対する濡れ性がよい、請求項１から請求項７のいずれか記載のマイクロ波処理装置。 The microwave processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the surface of the upper inner surface of the hollow portion has good wettability to the contents.
  9. 　前記容器には、前記容器の外方側に突出しており、一端が前記上内面において前記中空部と連通している外筒部が設けられており、
    　前記導波管は、一端が前記上内面から前記中空部側に突き出るように前記外筒部の内側に配置された内筒導波管を有する、請求項１から請求項８のいずれか記載のマイクロ波処理装置。     The container is provided with an outer cylinder portion that protrudes to the outer side of the container and one end of which communicates with the hollow portion on the upper inner surface.
    17. Microwave processing device.
  10. 　前記導波管は、前記容器に設けられた開口を貫通するように設けられており、
    　当該開口において、前記導波管と前記容器とは溶接されている、請求項１から請求項８のいずれか記載のマイクロ波処理装置。     The waveguide is provided so as to penetrate the opening provided in the container.
    The microwave processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the waveguide and the container are welded to each other at the opening.
  11. 　前記導波管は、前記容器に設けられた開口を挟んで対向するように設けられた、前記容器の外側の導波管と、前記容器の内側の導波管とを有しており、
    　前記容器の内側の導波管は、前記容器に対して着脱可能に設けられている、請求項１から請求項８のいずれか記載のマイクロ波処理装置。     The waveguide has a waveguide on the outside of the container and a waveguide on the inside of the container, which are provided so as to face each other across an opening provided in the container.
    The microwave processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the waveguide inside the container is detachably provided with respect to the container.
  12. 　液相の内容物が入れられる柱形状の中空部を有する容器であって、前記中空部の中心軸方向が鉛直方向となるように配置された容器の前記中空部に、前記内容物を流入させるステップと、
    　マイクロ波を、前記容器の上内面から前記中空部側に突き出た部分を有する導波管を介して前記内容物に照射するステップと
    を含み、
    　前記上内面は、少なくとも一部の領域において、前記中心軸から周辺に向かう方向に沿って高さが低くなる、マイクロ波処理方法。     The contents are allowed to flow into the hollow portion of the container having a pillar-shaped hollow portion into which the contents of the liquid phase are placed and arranged so that the central axis direction of the hollow portion is the vertical direction. Steps and
    Including the step of irradiating the contents with a microwave tube via a waveguide having a portion protruding from the upper inner surface of the container toward the hollow portion.
    A microwave processing method in which the height of the upper inner surface decreases along the direction from the central axis toward the periphery in at least a part of the region.
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